Machine for bundling sheets of unbound books



(No Model.)

B. ORAWLEY, S1.

MAGHINE FOR BUNDLING SHEETS 0F UNBOUND BOOKS. No. 453,312. 1 PatentedJune 2, 1891.

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EDVIN CRAWVLEY, SR, OF NElVPORT, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR BUNDLING SHEETS OF UNB OUND BOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,312, dated June 2,1891.

Application filed June 11,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN CEAWLEY, Sr., a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of the city of Newport, in the county ofCampbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Bundling the Sheets of Unbound Books, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the advantages arising fromtheir use, conjointly or otherwise, will be apparent from the followingdescription and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical transverse sect-ion of the machine, taken at the dotted lines00 w of Fig. 1, looking from right to left. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse section of the machine, taken at the dotted line y l/ of Fig.1 and looking from left to right. Fig. at represents a verticaltransverse section of the machine, taken at the dotted line 2' z of Fig.1, looking from left to right, showing the yoke-piece and itsconnecting-rod. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the plunger-bar. Fig. 6is an elevation of the flanged end, or, more properly, the side of thehead of the plunger-bar as it is seen in Fig. 1, in looking from left toright, when the grooved plates adjacent to said plunger-head have beenremoved. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the grooved side of that plate whichis secured to the front side or end of the plunger-head, the groovesfacing the lefthand end of the machine. Fig. 8 is an elevation of thegrooved side of the plate which is at the left-hand end of the machine,the grooves of said plate facing toward the righthand end of themachine. Fig. 9 is an elevation of certain details of my invention, andshowing more particularly the crankshaft, journal-bearings therefor, andpawl, together with the rod binding the journals together, and showinginsection the rods upon which the crank-shaft journals are supported, alsoshowing in section the plunger-bar, and also showing in elevation thelever which operates the said crankshaft, the view being taken at apoint in the longitudinal axis of the machine to the left of saiddevice. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the crank-shaft by itself. Fig.11 is an end View of the said crank-shaft, said view being taken at theright hand of Fig. 10, looking toward the left. Fig. 12 is a detailedview of that end portion of the trigger-rod shown at the left hand inFig. 1, and showing in section the adjacent portion of itssupporting-frame.

The frame-work of the machine consists, in general, of two transversesupporting-plates and two connecting-bars. One of thesesupporting-plates (indicated by the letter A) is at one end of themachine and the other vertical transverse supporting-plates B is at theother end of the machine. These plates A and B are rigidly connectedtogether by two parallel horizontal bars 0, one of these bars being atone side of the machine and the bther at the other side of the machine,substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This skeleton frame work issuitably supported, preferably on legs A, as shown. These legs arebraced by braces A A to withstand the strains to which the frame issubjected. The left-hand portion of this machine is provided with thereceptacle D, into which the booksheets to be pressed are placed. Thesides of the receptacle may be open or closed. The sides are preferablyformed of the parallel bars (1'. One of the rods 0 of the frame alsopreferably contributes to completing one side of the receptacle. Two ofthese rods cl also perform the further function of tying the right-handend (Z of the receptacle D to the left-hand end, forming plate A of themachine. The rods which perform this function are the lowest rod (1 andthe upper left-hand rod cl, (shown in Fig. 2, and also seen in Fig. 1,)said rods being suitably secured in position by nuts (1 The shape ofthis receptacle D in cross-section is rectangular, the bottom angle ofthe receptacle being at the bottom portion of the main frame of themachine, and for the purpose of enabling the book-sheets to better standon edge in the machine, and also for the further purpose of lowering theposition of the sheets in the machine, the bottom angle of thereceptacle is at the rear of the 1011- gitudinal central plane of themachine. The object of thus lowering the sheets in the machine is toenable the plunger to directly operate upon the sheets at a point nearertheir center without unduly elevating the plungerbar and its head inrelation to the other parts of the machine and thereby necessitatingextra mechanism for holding the plunger at the same elevated position orunduly lowering the receptacle and thereby complicating the constructionof the machine in this direction. I accomplish these purposes in a verysimple manner by shifting the bottom angle of the receptacle past thevertical longitudinal center of the machine, substantially as shown inFig. 2. \Vithin this receptacle moves the plunger-head E, whose face isparallel to the face of the end pieces A and B of the frame. Theoutlines of this plunger-head conform in shape to the inner frame incrosssection of the receptacle D, with the exception that the bottom ofthe plunger-head is provided with an extension (2, which extendsdownward and is provided with an opening e Through this eye or opening ethe lowest tie-rod d passes, and this last-named rod serves as a guideand a support for the plunger-head as the latter is reciprocated in thetrough or receptacle D. This plunger E is actuated by the plunger-bar aThis plungerbar e is supported and slides in a recess or opening e inthe plate 01 forming the righthand end of the receptacle D, and also issupported by and slides through an opening e in the frame-plate Bof themachine. The upper surface of this plunger-bar e is provided with atoothed rack c, the faces of the teeth being so arranged that they shallbe properly operated in the well-known manner by the pawls hereinafterdescribed.

Pivoted to a suitable portion of the frame, preferably to the end plateB, are two pawls 1) b Both of these pawls are arranged to engage withthe rack e of the plunger-bar e but the length of these pawls and theirposition is substantially as shown and such as to cause one of the pawlsto engage the rack when the other pawl is half-way between two adjacentteeth. By these means and by this arrangement I am enabled to hold theplunger-bar and its plunger-head against the elastic resistance of thecompressed book-sheets at shorter intervals of progression. Whendesired, one of the pawls b b may be dispensed wit-h, and the machinewill yet be operative; but the pressure of the plunger-head cannot be soclosely adjusted against the bundle.

For the advancement of the plunger-bar e and its head E, I provide thefollowing mechanism: A crank-shaft F is jonrnaled at each end in thejournal-boxes f f. These journal-boxes are respectively fixed upon theirrespective adjacent bars C of the frame. These journal-boxes are kept inavertical position by suitable means, preferably by means of the tie orbrace red f substantially as shownin Fig. 9. The crank-shaft F iscentrally provided with the cranks or lug-pieces f f, and between theselugs f" is placed a pawl f This pawl is pivotally connected to To oneend the lugs f at a point f thereon.

of the crank-shaft is rigidly attached the operating-lever f. As will beobserved by reference to Fig. 1, the relative positions of the pivotedpoint of connection between the pawl and itslugs are such in relation tothe lever that when the lever f is lifted and thrown back the pawl f isout of engagement. The manner wherein this pawl f is elevated is shownin Fig. 11, where the pawl is shown in dotted lines. As the lever f iselevated the shaft turns in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 11) andthe middle portion of the pawl will be caused to rest upon thecrank-shaft F, and the point of the pawl will be thrown up and out ofengagement with the rack. \Vhencver the lever f is moved inacontrarydirection-viz., from right to left in Fig. 1-- the shaft F will berotated in a direction contrary to that shown by the arrow in Fig. 11,and consequently the point of the pawl f willbe lowered and come intoengagement with the rack e of the rack-bar c. When the lever f is not inuse, it is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and itleans pasttheperpendicular to the right. This inclination of the lever preventsitfrom falling forward and striking the operator. In order to uphold thelever and preventit, after being inclined to the right of theperpendicular, as shown in Fig. 1, from falling down toward theright-hand end of the machine, there is provided a lug f, (see Figs. 1and 9,) which is rigidly attached to the journal-box adjacent to thesaid lever f The lower end of the leverf is likewise provided with alugfwhich, when the lever is inclined as shown in Fig. 1, engages the lugfon the journalbearing and stops any further movement of the lever towardthe right of the machine. As the lever f is moved from right to left thepoint of the pawl, as aforementioned, descends and engages with therack, and as the lever is continued to be moved the pawl will operate topress the plungenbar e to the left. By continued reciprocating movementof the lever f 5 the rack-bar is moved forward until the plunger-head isstopped by mechanism hereinafter specified, or, if the receptaclecontain a bundle of book-sheets, until the plunger-head impinges againstthe bundle of sheets, and the resistance of said sheets prevents theplunger-head from being moved any farther from right to left. In themeantime all backward movement of the bar 6 is prevented by means of thesupplemental pawls 1) b hereinhefore mentioned. In order to prevent thelever f when moved forward, from descending below a horizontal position,it is provided with a lugf", and upon the descent of the lever fromright to left to a horizontal position this lugf will impinge againstthe aforementioned lug f on the journal-bearing and prevent furtherdescent of the lever.

For convenience of operating the plungerbar in connection with thesupplemental pawls 1) I1 I have provided a novel mechanism, which I willnow describe. Beneath the lower pawl b is placed a lever, pivoted at bIIO end plate B of said frame. said lever lies directly below and inproximto the frame, and preferably to the upright One arm Z) of theityto the lower pawl 19 and the other arm 19 of said lever extendsdownward in a nearlyvertical position. is connected a spring or weight,preferably the former, whose tendency is always to press the arm 19 fromright to left, and thereby elevate the arm b of said lever. A preferredarrangement of mechanism for this purpose consists in the spring I),strained from a fixed point, as 6 on the journal-box. To this lower armb of the lever is also connected a push-rod b the free end of thispush-rod being preferably provided with a handle b. The rod is alsoprovided with a notch or catch b in its under side and astop Z7 Thenotch Z7 is arranged to engage an edge Z7 of the frame-plate A. The pinor stop 12 prevents the push-bar b from being thrown too far from rightto left by the action of the spring I). The movement of the rod 12 fromleft to right is properly limited by the plate B, against which theright-hand end of the rod 19 impinges. When the rod 11 is pushed fromleft to right, the notch Z1 engages the lip or edge b of the frame. Thespring I) is strained and the lever-arm b is depressed and allows thepawls b b to fall and engage with the rack e of the plunger-bar 6 asheretofore mentioned. As the movement of the rod 19 from left to rightis limited by the plateB of the frame, the leverarm I), after droppingthe pawls 1) b does not descend far enough to engage itself with therack e of the plunger-bar e and remains stationary at a point betweenthe pawl 19 and the rack 6 The rod 5 and its free ends e e are allowedto remain in this last-named position while the operator is actuatingthe main lever f and advancing the plunger-bar and plunger-head againstthe bundle of sheets lying within the receptacle or trough D. Af-

ter a bundle of sheets has been tied, as hereinafter specified, it isdesirable to retract the plunger and plunger-bar from left to right inorder to remove the tied bundle of booksheets and place the machine inreadiness for the reception of the new set of book-sheets to be dulytied into bundles. In order to loosen the pawls 19- b it is necessaryfor the operator to employ his Weight and energy.

NVhen the pawl f is in engagement with the rack e, the free end of themain lever f will be depressed, as aforementioned, from right to leftand will be located somewhere at the" b 12 must be continuallyupheld bythe operator while the plunger-bar e is being re- To this arm 12 of thelever tracted. Otherwise the pawl 12 or b will pre- Vent the furtherretraction of said plungerbar 6 My device, consisting of the rod blevers b 19 and spring 19 obviates these difficulties and disadvantages,and at this point in the operation of the machine comes into active use.

Its operation is as follows: The operatordisengages the notch of the bar19 from the lip or edge Z9 of the frame A, and the tension of thespring 1) moves the bar 11 from right to left, carrying with it thelever 19 and lifting the lever 19 until the latter impinges against thepawl W. The pressure of the plunger-bar e upon one of the pawls b baccording as one or the other is in engagement with the rack 2 preventsthe spring I), through the agency of the levers 12 b from raising thepawls b b at this juncture. The operator, pressing down the lever f, asaforementioned, relieves the pressure of the bar upon the engaged pawlZ) or 12 and thereupon the pressure of the spring I), exerted throughthe lever b raises the pawls b 12 away from the rack e". At this pointin the operation of the device the pin Z1 comes into play and limits themovement of the rod 12 from right to left,

and for the same reason limits the elevation of the arm I) andconstantly limits the elevation of the pawls b 6 leaving them in a con-Venient position for readily engaging with the rack e when the arm orrod 19 shall be moved from left to right and the notch 12 may be engagedwith the lip or edge 11 of the frame.

The operator now lifts the lever f thereby releasing the pawl fromengagementwith the rack e, and the plunger-bar is now free to slide fromleft to right and to return to its original position, the plunger-head Ebeing at or near the plate (1 of the receptacle D. It may be hereremarked that in order to limit the movement of the plunger-bar e fromright to left and prevent the right-hand end of the bar from passingthrough and out of the plate B of the frame I provide suitable stops.When the lever f is elevated .and its pawl f is out of contact with theplunger-bar, I provide a suitable stop 6''. This prevents the plungerbarfrom being drawn through the plate 13 by hand. To prevent the right-handend of the plunger-bar from being carried through the plate B bypowernamely, by means of the operation of the lever f and the pawl j -Iprovide on the plunger-bar e a blank space (2 between the forwardportion e of the rack e and the rear portion a of the rack e When theright-hand end of the plunger-bar has nearly reached the plate B, thepoint of the pawl f 3 reaches the blank space 6 and farther movement ofthe plunger-bar e from right to left through the agency of the pawl f isimpossible. It is desirable to adj ust the pressure of the plungeragainst the bundle of book-sheets to as fine a degree as possible. Forthis reason the teeth on rack. e are preferably finer and closertogether than on the forward rack e Were it not for this construction itwould happen that when the operator had almost fully compressed thebundle of sheets and could advance by lever f the plunger for thedistance of only one-half a tooth of rack e he could notv take advantageof this advance, but would have to let the rack slide back said onehalftooth, thereby leaving the bundle not fully compressed.

In order to facilitate the application of the string to the bundle ofbook-sheets while under the pressure of the machine, I make use of thewell-known means heretofore employed for similar purposes. These meansare as follows: A block I-I, adapted to set within the receptacle D inthe position shown in Fig. 1, has provided on that one of its faceswhich is toward the left-hand end of the machine a double series ofgrooves h, one series of grooves crossing the other series at rightangles. These grooves are of a sufficient size to readily allow thepassage through them of the string or cord with which the bundle ofbook-sheets in the press is to be tied. This block II is preferablyprovided with a handle 7L2. This block II is then bolted to theplunger-head E. The handle 71.2 enables the plunger-head E and theplunger-bar e to be readily reciprocated by hand.

K indicates a block which is complementary to the block IIaforementioned. This block K is similarly provided with two series ofgrooves h, crossing each other at right angles and of sufficient size toadmit the passage of the string or cord with which the bundle ofbook-sheets in the press is to be tied. The block K is located in theleft-hand portion of the receptacle D, and its grooves face toward therighthand end of the machine. Preferably this block is not fastened tothe end plate A of the machine, but is movable toward the right. It ismade movable for the following reason: In order to economize space andto enable the machine to be operated in a smaller compass, theplunger-bar e is made only of such a length as that the plunger-headwith its block II can come only to the middle of the receptacleDna1nely, the point shown in dotted lines x a: of Fig. 1. Ordinarily anybundle of sheets that may be tied in this machine will occupy more thanonehalf of the receptacle D. In case, however, the bundle of sheets tobe tied occupies less than one-half of the receptacle D, the block K ismoved forward and a suitable block of wood or other suitable material isto be placed between the plate A and the block K, thereby advancing itsufficiently to enable the plunger-head E to exercise a proper amount ofpressure on the bundle of sheets to be tied. fore it not for the factthat the block K is movable, the plunger-bar 0 would have to be mademuch longer, and consequently the working-space occupied by the machinein a room or factory where it is operated would be much greater.

I will now describe in general the mode in which my machine operates.

The plunger-head being at or near the righthand end of the receptacle Dand the block K having been properly adjusted, as afore-' mentioned, theoperator sees that the notch b of the rod b is in engagement with thelip or edge I) of the frame A. A sufficient quantity of booksheets isplaced on edge within the receptacle D. In case the sheets are foldedsheets the folded edge which is to form the back of the book is placedon the side L of the receptacle D, while the folded edge that is to formthe head or top of the book rests against the side M of the receptacleD, the leaves being readily and quickly adjusted so that theirrespective edges are in line. The operator now seizes the handle andrapidly draws the plunger-head and block IIinto contact with theadjacent head of the bundle of book-sheets. He then reciprocates thelever f and, through the agency of the pawl f, further advances theplunger-bar e and the head E, with its block II, thereby compressingtogether book-sheets in the receptacle D to the desired degree. He nowpasses the cord or string with which the bundle is to be tied around thebundle of sheets to be tied, and in accomplishing this result he passesthe cord through one of the grooves of the block II and one of thegrooves of the block K. Having securely tied the bundle together in theordinary manner, he now disengages the notch b of the rod 1) from thelip b of the frame A. He now applies power to the lever f until thepressure of the plunger-bar a upon the pawls 1) according as one or theother is in engagement with the rack e ,is relieved. The pawls b b riseout of contact with the rack a, leaving the plunger-bar free to be movedback from left to right by hand. The operator thus moves backtheplunger-bar head and block II by means of the handle 7L2 to a positionin proximity with the right-hand end of the receptacle. He then removesthe tied bundle of sheets from the receptacle and again proceeds torepeat the aforementioned operation. In this way the desired number ofbook-sheets are successively tied.

lVhile the various features of my invention are preferably employ edtogether, one or more of them, so far as applicable, may be employedwithout the remainder.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the receptacle D and the frame-plate B, thereciprocating plunger-bar 6 provided with rack e, and provided at itsend with the plunger-head E and grooved block II, substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

2. In a machine for compressing and tying boolcsheets, the receptacle Dand reciprocating plunger E, provided with the extension e sliding onthe bottom guide-rod d, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a machine for compressing and tying book-sheets, the combinationof the receptacle for the sheets, plunger E, plunger-bar c IOC pawl fpawl or pawls Z) W, and rack a, provided with the space 8 vacant ofteeth, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a machine for compressing and tying book-sheets, the combinationof the receptacle for the sheets, plunger E, plunger-bar c pawl f pawlor pawls I) 12 rack e, provided with the space e vacant of teeth, andlug 6 located at the right-hand end of the plungerbar 6", substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

5. In a machine for compressing and tying book-sheets, the receptacle D,plunger E, plunger-bar 6 provided with the rack e, pawl f lever f andpawl or' pawls 1) b engaging the rearportion of the rack e,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. Ina machine for compressing and tying book-sheets, the receptacle D,plunger E,

plunger-bar e pawl f pawl or pawls 1) b pivotally supported,substantially as described, lever Z); connected to and operated by lever17 spring I)", operating-rod b provided with notch Z9 and stationary lip19 for engagement therewith, substantially as and 'for the purposesspecified.

EDWIN CRAXVLEY, SR.

Attest A. L. HERRLINGER, G. A. W. PAVER.

